Mike Pence: Donald Trump ‘Loves His Family and He Loves This Country’

Republican Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence tells congregants at the Living Word Bible Church in Mesa, Arizona about his own family values and those echoed in the Republican Party, while praising Donald Trump for his integrity and character.

“All you need to know about Donald Trump is he loves his family and he loves this country,” Pence told the crowd.

“When Donald Trump talks about that we will make America great again, I have to tell you what he means is that, from the day we arrive in the White House, I promise you the Trump-Pence team is going to work our hearts out every day.” Pence noted that “than a whole lot of zeroes, Donald Trump and I have a lot in common” noting that a major part of that commonality lies in “the passion that we both feel for the American dream.”

Pence also spoke about his Christian faith and reiterated his pro-life stance. “I speak on behalf of my wife and I. [And] I would tell you there is no more important cause to the Pences than the cause of life,” he said. He added that Trump has similarly “made a clear commitment to the sanctity of human life.”

The church event was Pence’s third visit to the Phoenix-area since accepting the Republican vice presidential nomination in July. It was held after an earlier Pence town-hall-style appearance in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Living World Bible Church, which is located on 3520 E. Brown Road, has approximately 8,000 congregants.

Although Arizona is traditionally a red sate, polls show Hillary Clinton and Trump very close there. The last two Democratic presidential candidates to win the Grand Canyon State in an election were Presidents Bill Clinton in 1996 and Harry Truman in 1948.

Pence also devoted a few minutes of his 25-minute speech to ending illegal immigration, reiterating a key phrase in Trump’s campaign: “We’re going to build a wall, and Mexico is going to pay for it.” Trump recently announced that the wall he intends to commission will be paid for using seized assets from Mexican drug cartels; groups that are fueling the deadly and high-lucrative illegal drug trade which has resulted in a costly war on drugs.

Before taking questions from the audience, Pence thanked the crowd for their prayers and praised Trump’s character and leadership, saying “Character matters to the presidency and Donald Trump will bring the highest level of integrity to the highest office of the land.”